On May 11, Joana Monteiro, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Leme, participated in an institutional agenda in Chicago focused on the exchange of experiences related to public security, violence prevention, and evidence-based policymaking. The agenda also included the participation of Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes and featured meetings with researchers, experts, and internationally recognized institutions in the field.

The program began with a meeting with Christopher Blattman, an internationally recognized researcher known for his work on violence, conflict, and organized crime. The discussion focused on experiences related to the dynamics of urban criminal groups, violence prevention strategies, and opportunities for international cooperation in initiatives aimed at generating evidence for public security policies.

Throughout the day, the delegation also visited the University of Chicago Crime Lab, where they met with Roseanna Ander, the institution’s Founder and Executive Director; Robert Boik, former executive responsible for constitutional policing reform within the Chicago Police Department; and Katie Hill, a specialist in public policy and urban security. The meeting addressed issues related to police reform, the professionalization of security forces, leadership development, and evidence-based policing models.

During the visit, participants were introduced to initiatives developed by the Crime Lab in partnership with police departments and local authorities, including continuing education programs, management strategies aimed at reducing violence, and institutional strengthening efforts. The discussions also highlighted the importance of collaboration among government, academia, and civil society organizations in developing public policies grounded in data and impact evaluation.

The agenda also included a visit to the Institute for Nonviolence Chicago, an organization dedicated to preventing gun violence in vulnerable communities. The institution develops initiatives focused on conflict mediation, support for individuals at risk, and assistance to victims of violence, with an emphasis on interrupting cycles of retaliation and strengthening community-based prevention strategies.

As part of her agenda in Chicago, Joana also participated in the Empirical Studies of Conflict (ESOC) conference, held at the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy. On that occasion, she served as a discussant in a session dedicated to recruitment strategies used by criminal groups and state responses to organized crime, providing comments on research examining the effects of security policies implemented in El Salvador and factors associated with adolescents’ entry into drug trafficking-related groups in Medellín, Colombia.